Onyemachara tips Enyimba, Wolves for group stage

Former Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland) of Owerri Captain, Mike Onyemachara, believes Nigeria’s entries in the 2016 CAF Champions League, Enyimba of Aba and Warri Wolves, will qualify for the group stage of the competition.

At the draws held in Senegal on Friday, Enyimba will begin their bid for a third CAF Champions League title away to Ugandan champions, Vipers SC, in Bukiwe, on the weekend of February 12 to 14, 2016.

They will welcome the Ugandans to the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba a fortnight later.
 The winner of this tie will progress to the next qualifying round to face either Lioli FC of Lesotho or Burundian champions, Vital’O in March.

Warri Wolves also start their maiden appearance in the Champions League from the preliminary round and will face SC da Praia Cruz of Sao Tome and Principe at the same time as Enyimba.

Speaking on the draws, Onyemachara, who featured regularly in the old Champions Cup with the Naze Millionaires, said Nigeria’s path to the group stage on paper looks easily, adding, however, “the teams have to begin early preparation to actualise the dream.”

He said: “The Nigerian league has done so well to build the level of our football and I don’t expect the Ugandans or the team from Sa Tome to halt Enyimba and Warri Wolves’ respective ambitions.

“I saw some games of the past season and I must commend the LMC for doing a good job. I believe that in Enyimba and Warri Wolves we have worthy competitors, who can even win the CAF Champions League if given the right support by everybody concerned.

“Players must be put in the right frame of mind through payment of their salaries and other entitlements, as well as provision of the basic tools, including good quality kits.

“Another thing for the clubs to do is to ensure that the players are in good shape when the competition begins even if the Nigerian league has kicked off then.”

Onyemachara also tips Nasarawa United and Akwa United to do well in the CAF Confederation Cup although he admits they have tough opponents in the first round of the competition.

“I am sure that Nasarawa United can beat Senegalese club, Generation Foot, is they are well-prepared for the two legs of the tie,” he said.